A Tour Of My Studio - 2013

I moved everything around in my studio a few months back but never got around to taking pics. I was starting to have some serious anxiety issues with my lack of space. This new configuration helped relieve some of the anxiety for a while but I'm running out of space again. Anyway this is as clean as it gets. Let's tour shall we?

This was my original plan. Things changed slightly but it's mostly the same.

My studio is in the dining room. I have my large couch blocking part of the entrance because the living room is weird and there is nowhere else to put it.

Behind the couch there is a small bookcase that I use the top of to iron small things. Books and magazines are stored on the shelves. Next to the book case is a wire shelving unit that holds my printer and printer supplies.

Computer desk with cushion underneath for the cat.

Large wire shelves that I moved from the window wall to in front of the kitchen door. Everything is neatly labeled so I can find things but now I'm running out of room so things are piled in front of the shelf.

Clay table with shelves I moved over on the wall. I always meant to make a table skirt so all the crap under the table was hidden...oh well.

My main worktable is now in front of the window so I have better light during the day. A portion of the table is taken up by my new sewing machine.

Next to that table is my felt storage. The small boxes on top have trims and things.

As you can see I'm really packed in here tight. And this is after a good clean out. I won't tell you how much I have stored in the garage too. My brother has said he intends to move out this summer so I'm trying to hold on til then. If he does move I'll take over his room which is the Master bedroom. It's not a huge room at all but just big enough so I can spread out and breathe a bit. Keeping my fingers crossed this happens cause once I'm in there I'm not moving back out.

Restless...

I thought when I re-organized my studio a few months back that this was it. This was the the most workable solution for me. I'll be happy and productive...yeah right. Well I am more productive, but mostly because I'm forcing myself to do things for special purposes: challenges, swaps and publication opportunities. But something just isn't right with my studio. I still feel like I have too much stuff crammed in everywhere and it's wearing on me. I need to clear everything out and start fresh.

Here's my little studio space now.

As you can see there is a lot going on in here. While I was pretty proud that I was able to fit everything in, I realize that's not necessary a good thing. I have 3 large worktables, a computer desk, a large file cabinet, a small and a large wire shelving units, a small file cabinet, 3 large storage drawer bins, 2 walls of shelving, etc, etc.

So I did some space planning online and this is what I came up with.

I'm turning the 2 worktables into a long L shaped work surface and getting rid of the 3rd table. The 2 sizes of wire shelving will stay and a bookcase will be brought in to hold all my art books. The worktable will be raised up to counter height and will have lots of storage underneath. I'll be blocking the door to the kitchen off with either a shelving unit or a bookcase,.but I do that now anyway so it's not an issue

The couch is here because you walk thru the living room to get to my studio and this is how I have my couch positioned. Keeps little nephew from running in and out and in and out. ;0)

I'm sure this plan will change some as I go along. Wish me luck!

A New Studio design For A New Year

What I had wasn't working any more. I've changed my work focus and needed to change my studio to reflect that and make it easier to create.

Here's a shot of my little space from the living room. If you've seen my studio before than you might think it's pretty much the same...but there are some major differences. I now have 2 worktables for cloth and felt doll and plush making, a separate worktable for clay and painting and a smaller table just for my computer. Somehow I got another table in here without taking anything out except for the small console table I was using to shoot on. Yea me!
The empty corner wall on the right is driving me nuts. It the perfect place to hang art I have form other etsy artists, so once I organize myself I'll get that done...eventually...you know how I am.

This is my main worktable that you've all seen. It faces the living room so I can watch t.v. while I sew. Yeah I know my living room was a hot mess when I shot this and honestly it still is.

I moved the table my computer and printer were on to this side and can store my felt bins underneath now. I got a great bunch of photo boxes super cheap at the clearance sale Joann's was having and I have trims and lace and buttons etc stored and labeled. I even organized them by season, like all Halloween stuff and all Christmas stuff! Squee! Now I don't have to dig every single time I want to work on something.

I moved my shipping storage to the left corner. And my giant bags of stuffing are in that corner too. Packed away lots of finished work and made space for my clay and painting supplies. I even have room for my toaster oven to bake my little pieces! This clay table is sharing space with my photo printer for now but that will change soon. My sewing machines and another printer and supply storage goes underneath.

This is now my computer station. It's my old drafting table I got for high school graduation that I refused to give away. See I did need it! It fits perfectly here.

I still have the big shelving unit. I just moved it over a few feet since my felt bins are no longer there and that allows me access to the window in front of my computer desk. Daylight! I organized this a bit but there's a lot I just want to get rid of still. My trusty file cabinet stayed in the corner but I went through it and shredded most of my old ebay files.

I want to share this great find. I got it 1/2 off which is good cause it isn't worth more than that anyway. I was able to clean out a whole big bin of ribbon and now I can see what I have. So happy about this! I hated pulling out that bin and digging through it.

Well it's not one of those fancy, super girly pretty studios but it's me and I look forward to getting my hands dirty in here.